Combined folding ironing board,table,drawing board and easel



y 19, 1970 Y F. P. BLANCHARD 3,512,486

Filed Feb. 1, 1968 COMBINED FOLDING IRONING BOARD, TABLE, DRAWING BOARD AND msn 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FIG 5 FELIX P. BLANCHARD May 19, 1970 F. P. BLANCHARD 3,512,436

COMBINED FOLDING IRONING BOARD; TABLE, DRAWING BOARD AND EASEL Filed Feb. 1, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FELIX F? BLANCHARD United States Patent 3,512,486 COMBINED FOLDING IRONING BOARD, TABLE, DRAWING BOARD AND EASEL Felix P. Blanchard, 236 Concord Ave., San Antonio, Tex. 78201 Filed Feb. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 702,279 Int. Cl. A47b 85/00 US. Cl. 108-13 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The device is foldable and secured in a compact package with carrying handle. When unfolded, spring loaded legs extend, Y lock and diagonal member in conjunction with adjusting bracket support the multiplicity of working surface in a series of selected predetermined desirable positions. The combination is readily convertible to uses, as ironing board, table, drawing board and easel.

Folding chairs, ironing boards and tables in numerous configurations are well known to the art. Ironing boards have been concealed in table tops and wall cabinets for a substantial period of time. None of the foregoing items, however, fulfill the need for an exceedingly compact packet easily stored and readily portable with a convenient effective carrying handle. The subject of this invention is particularly suited for use in a travel trailer or for use by students. The preferred embodiment of this item in folded carrying configuration is approximately inches thick, 50 inches long and 15 inches high, excluding the carrying handle. The carrying handle, adapted for use as an adjustable support bracket, engages the folded packet by means of carrying hooks in the carrying loops of the adjusting bracket. In this configuration, the combined item is sturdy, compact and handily portable.

The releasing of the wing nut of the upper bracket, and the leg folding catch, and the diagonal brace folding catch, opens the packet for use, the spring loaded legs pop out into the supporting position when the diagonal brace is pulled out. As the item is unfolded, the Y catch falls out by gravity and engages the diagonal support. The adjusting bracket which in the folded configurations serves as a principal component of the carrying means should be repositioned for use in the unfolded configuration.

The adjusting bracket side stringers are sprung out slightly to release the socket arms from the upper adjusting bracket retaining socket and repositioned in the lower socket. The engaging foot of the adjusting bracket is placed in the hooks or on one of the adjusting bracket positions of the diagonal support to adapt the item of furniture for various uses. The table top and extension leaves can be secured to the hinged extension panel converting the device into a table, drawing board, or easel. To fixedely secure the table top to the extension panel, the lower bracket or carrying handle and the upper bracket can be secured to the extension panel by means of the adjusting wing nut, thereby engaging the table top. From the foregoing summary, it is readily apparent that an exceedingly compact packet extends into a relatively large item of furniture possessing adjustable feature adapting the device for a multiplicity of uses.

An object of this invention was to produce a folding portable combined item of furniture adapted for a multiplicity of uses.

Another object was to incorporate in one packet an item of furniture adapted for use as an ironing board, table, drawing board, and easel, or display board.

Another object was to achieve the ultimate in compactness and portability.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referenced characters refer to identical or similar components throughout the various views.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the device in a folded carrying configuration.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device in a folded carrying configuration illustrating the reverse side of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the bottom end view of the device taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is the top end view of the device taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1 looking n the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a side isometric view of the device in the configuration of an ironing board.

FIG. 6 is a side isometric view of the device in the configuration of a table.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view partially in section of the device in the drafting table configuration.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the device in an easel or display board configuration.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of the device depicting substantially the reverse side of FIG. 8.

With continued reference to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the construction of the device is illustrated in the folded or carrying configuration. The device may be constructed of wood, metal, plastics or a combination of materials. FIG. 2 illustrates the central body portion 11, the legs 12 are folded in and retained in position by the leg folding catch 13 and the side stringers 14 of the diagonal support 15. One of the diagonal braces 16 is illustrated retained in the folded position by the diagonal brace folding catch 17.

FIG. 1 illustrates the device in the folded or carrying position. The adjusting bracket 18 is retained in the folded position by the upper bracket 19 which locks over the adjusting bracket 18 engaging foot 20. The adjusting bracket side stringers 21 are illustrated including the adjusting bracket carrying loops 22. The carrying loops 22 are engaged by the carrying hooks 23 of the lower bracket or carrying handle 24. The adjusting bracket 18 central support 25 in this configuration encompasses the table top 26 adjacent to table top securing tongue 27. The adjusting bracket side stringers 21 terminate in socket arms 28 which are illustrated in FIG. 1 engaging the upper adjusting bracket retaining socket 29. Referring to FIG. 3, the ends of the legs 12 are visible in the folded position retained by the diagonal support side stringers 14. The end of the hinged extension panel 30 is llustrated as well as the end of the table top 26, together with table top extension leaves 31.

Referring to FIG. 4, the central body portion is visible at 11 together with the central hinge 32. Two of the central hinge mounting blocks 33 are illustrated. The upper bracket adjusting nut 35 is illustrated engaging the slot in the hinged extension panel 30 as well as the upper bracket 19. The diagonal support side stringer 14 is illustrated engaged by the pivot pin 34 of the diagonal support better illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

Referring to FIG. 5 the device is illustrated in the unfolded ironing board configuration. The legs 12 are in the extended or supporting position. The diagonal support 15 is extended and the Y lock 36 has engaged a diagonal brace 16 of the diagonal support 15. The hinged extension panel 30 is extended outward in the ironing board configuration. The adjusting bracket 18 is engaged in the lower adjusting bracket retaining socket 37 and the engaging foot 20 is secured in the adjusting bracket hooks 38. The foregoing arrangement of components creates an ironing board configuration.

Referring to FIG. 6, the ironing board may be converted into a table by positioning the table top 26 over the hinged extension panel 30 with the table top securing the tongue 27 in the groove of the said panel. Illustrated in FIG. 9 the table top lock nut 39 is secured by the engaging hinge 40. The table top extension leaves 31 are placed in abutting engagement and firmly secured by the upper bracket 19 and its adjusting nut 35.

The drafting table configuration, FIG. 7, is accomplished by repositioning the adjusting bracket 18 engaging foot 20 in one of the higher adjusting bracket steps 41, FIG. 6, thus, in essence sloping the table top 26 to a drafting board angle.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, to create an easel or display board, a still higher adjusting bracket step 41 is engaged. In the highest step, the central body portion '11 and the hinged extension panel will be positioned in a straight line approaching the vertical. As in FIG. 8 the easel or display board position, a variation is possible in that the lower bracket or carrying handle 24 can engage the table top 26 and be secured in the slot of the central body panel 11 or the hinged extension panel 30 by means of the lower bracket adjusting nut 42, eliminating the necessity for the use of the table top lock nut 39 of FIG. 9 and the engaging hinge 40. The upper bracket 19 firmly engages the uppermost table top extension leaves 31.

The construction of the leg assembly is best illustrated in FIG. 9. The two legs 12 are mounted on leg pivots 43. The upper end of the legs 12 are drawn together by an extending spring 44. Intermediate the two legs 12 is positioned a leg support block against which the legs 12 are drawn securely by the extending spring 44, when the legs are in the extended position.

Covering the entire assembly is the spring guard 46 which is secured to the central body panel 11 by spring guard retaining screws 47 or other suitable fastening means. FIG. 9 also illustrates the manner in which the Y lock 36 is secured to the central body panel 11. The Y lock is pivotally mounted on a Y lock mounting hinge 48 which is secured to the central body panel 11 by means of Y lock mounting screws 49 or other suitable fastening means. FIG. 9 also best illustrates the manner in which the diagonal braces 16 are secured to the diagonal support side stringers 14 by diagonal brace securing screws 50 or by other similar eifective fastening means. This view also illustrates the attaching of the central hinge 32 to the central body portion 11 and the hinge extension panel 30 by means of central hinge retaining screws 51 or other equivalent fastening means.

Having described the preferred embodiment of my invention and its operation in detail, I claim:

1. A foldable item of furniture convertible to multiple configurations comprising:

(a) a central body portion, (b) multiplicity of legs pivotally secured to said central body portion, (c) means including a spring attached to said legs normally forcing the said legs into the extended position, (d) a central hinge secured to an end of said central body ortion, and (e) an extension panel secured by said central hinge, (f) an upper bracket adjustably secured to said extension panel, (g) a lower bracket adjustably secured to said extension panel, (h) a table top securely engaged between the said upper bracket and said lower bracket.

2. A foldable item of furniture convertible to multiple configurations comprising:

(a) a central body portion,

(b) a multiplicity of legs pivotally secured to said central body portion,

(0) means including a spring attached to said legs normally forcing the said legs into the extended position,

((1) a central hinge secured to an end of said central body portion, and

(e) an extension panel secured by said central hinge,

(f) a diagonal support pivotally engaging said central hinge,

(g) an adjustable bracket pivotally engaging said extension panel,

(h) a Y lock hingedly secured to said central body portion securely engaging said diagonal support.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said diagonal support includes a multiplicity of adjusting bracket steps, capable of selectively securely engaging an end of said adjusting bracket thereby positioning said extension panel in varying positions of angularity in relation to said central body portion.

4. A foldable item of furniture convertible to multiple configurations comprising:

(a) a central body portion,

(b) a multiplicity of leg pivots secured to said central body portion,

(0) a multiplicity of legs rotatably mounted on said leg pivots,

-(d) spring loading means engaging said legs in such a manner as to urge them into an extended position,

(e) a hinged extension panel attached to said central body portion,

(f) a hinge intermediate said hinged extension panel and said central body portion,

(g) a diagonal support member including multiple adjusting steps pivotally secured at the said hinge, and

(h) an adjusting bracket, pivotally secured to said hinged extension panel adapted to engage said adjusting steps in said diagonal support member.

5. The invention of claim 4 including a Y lock pivotally secured to said main body portion adapted to engage said diagonal support member.

6. The invention of claim 4 said spring loading means include:

(a) an extending spring interconnecting a multiplicity of legs, and

(b) a spring guard encasing said extension spring.

00 7. The invention of claim 4 including a leg support block mounted on said central body portion abuttingly engaging said leg in its extended position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 236,969 1/1881 Yeoman 1089 X 401,440 4/ 1889 Keith 108-13 987,113 3/1911 Cooley l0810 0 996,533 6/1911 Stafford 108-11 X 2,991,122 7/1961 Boo 297-3 3,141,260 7/1964- Dompieri 108-10 X BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 2 8 5 6 

